The sky had darkened into a deep indigo as Leah Boutsuki trudged home, her steps slow and heavy. The crisp winter air bit at her cheeks, but the chill felt nothing compared to the ache in her chest. Her hands were stuffed deep in her coat pockets, fists clenched tightly as if holding herself together.
The playground had been unforgiving. Sakurai-san's voice, trembling yet firm, still rang in her ears. Miyazaki-san's calm departure haunted her, a quiet reminder of how impossibly composed Miyazaki-san could be. And Leah… Leah had ended the confrontation in tears, feeling more exposed than ever.
She stepped through the front door of her home, the familiar scent of warm food and laundry greeting her, but she hardly noticed. Litsuko, her mother, looked up from the living room, her gentle eyes immediately noticing her daughter's disheveled state.
"Leah? What happened?" Litsuko asked softly, rising from the sofa. She approached Leah carefully, concern etched across her face.
Leah let out a shaky sigh, letting the weight of her body slump against the doorway. "I… I fought," she whispered, barely audible.
Her mother raised an eyebrow, frowning gently. "Fought? With who?"
Leah shook her head, tears threatening to spill again. "With… Sakurai-san… and Miyazaki-san."
Litsuko's eyes softened. "I see… You're really upset." She stepped closer and wrapped Leah in a comforting hug, feeling the tension in her daughter's shoulders. "Come sit down. Eat something warm. Talk to me."
Leah nodded against her mother's shoulder, the warmth of the embrace a small balm to her frayed nerves. She allowed herself to be led to the living room, sinking into the sofa beside Litsuko.
"I… I don't know what to do, Mom," Leah admitted, voice cracking. "I care about Jousuke… so much. And now… now I don't even know if he knows how I feel, or if he even notices what's happening between me and… and Sakurai-san and Miyazaki-san."
Litsuko patted her hand gently. "You love him, don't you?"
Leah's hands clenched in her lap. "Yes… I love him, Mom. I've loved him for so long, and every time I see him… every time I think about him, it just… it hurts. And then, today…" She bit her lip, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I argued with Sakurai-san and Miyazaki-san, and now… now it feels like everything's ruined. I don't know what to do!"
Litsuko's eyes were kind but firm. "Leah, listen. Love isn't a game. And it's not about winning or losing fights with friends. It's about honesty… and courage. You've been brave enough to feel, to care. That's the first step."
Leah sniffled, wiping at her cheeks. "But I… I shouted, and cried, and… I just… I just made everything worse. Sakurai-san… she looked so hurt, and Miyazaki-san… she just walked away without even saying anything."
"That doesn't mean you failed, Leah," Litsuko said. "It means you're human. It means you're real. And you're being honest about your feelings. That's more than many people could ever do."
Leah looked down, a small hiccup escaping her. "I just… I don't know if he even knows how I feel. Or if he'll ever feel the same way about me…"
Her mother reached over, lifting Leah's chin gently. "He notices you. He notices everything you do, Leah. And if you want him to understand, you need to be honest with him—not just with your words, but with your actions."
Leah let out a shaky breath, leaning back against the couch. "I just… I'm so scared, Mom. What if I lose him? What if I can't… I can't compete with Sakurai-san or Miyazaki-san?"
Litsuko smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her daughter's face. "You're not competing. You're showing him who you are. That's what matters. And you can't control how anyone else feels, only yourself."
Leah nodded slowly, letting the warmth of her mother's words seep in. "I… I guess I just needed to tell someone. To say all of this out loud… and… I feel a little lighter now."
"That's good," Litsuko said. "You've taken the first step toward sorting out your heart. And remember… it's okay to be vulnerable. It's okay to cry, to be angry, to feel frustrated. But don't let those feelings cloud what's truly important—your heart, and the people you care about."
Leah's lips curled into a small, genuine smile, though her eyes still glistened with tears. "Thanks, Mom… I needed to hear that."
Her mother squeezed her hand once more before letting go. "Now, rest a little. Tomorrow is another day, and who knows… maybe it'll be a day where things start to become clearer."
Leah nodded, feeling a small spark of resolve in her chest. The argument, the tears, the confusion—they hadn't solved anything, but maybe… maybe they were a necessary step. She still loved Jousuke, still wanted him, and still hoped he would notice her.
For the first time that evening, Leah allowed herself to imagine a future where she could speak honestly to him, without fear, without hiding. The thought made her heartbeat quicken and a shy smile spread across her face.
The night outside grew colder, but inside, wrapped in the warmth of her home and her mother's words, Leah felt a little braver, a little stronger.
And though the fight with Sakurai-san and Miyazaki-san hadn't ended well, she knew this: her heart was hers to protect, and her feelings for Jousuke were real, unshakable, and worth every tear she had shed.